Order of Canada for Milliken

Peter Milliken, the retired Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands and the longest-serving Speaker of the House in Parliamentary history, has another honour to his credit.

On Friday, Milliken, 68, received the Officer of the Order of Canada, one of Canada’ highest civilian honours.

He was one of 95 appointments honoured by the Governor General’s office.

He’s going in as an Officer, the second-highest rank in the Order of Canada after Companion and before the Member level.

Of the appointments made public there are three Companions, 13 Officers and 79 Members.

"Well, I’m delighted," said Milliken when asked about the honour.

The order was established in 1967, during Canada’s centennial year, to recognize outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. Over the last 45 years, more than 6,000 people from all walks of life have been invested into the Order.

Milliken was the only recipient from eastern Ontario on Friday. Others honoured Friday included Dick Pound, who served various role with the International Olympic Committee and has worked with anti-doping groups; Mark Carney, the former Bank of Canada governor now leading the Bank of England; longtime Canadian Football League coach and general manager Wally Buono, and singer Chantal Kreviazuk. Milliken was the Kingston and the Islands member of Parliament from 1988 until his retirement in 2011 after winning the local riding seven straight times.

He was also the Speaker of the house from 2001 until 2011. He’s the longest-serving MP for Kingston and the Islands.

Milliken was asked if the order was to honour all the work he’s done as MP and Speaker.

"I suspect so, I’ve not seen the application, I didn’t even know someone had submitted my name."

He was informed by Governor General David Johnston a couple of weeks ago that he’d be receiving the award.

"It was a bit of a surprise to get this phone call and he just said he had some good news for me and there it was, I was going to be made an officer of the order and he passed on his congratulations."

Jeff Garrah, CEO of The Kingston Economic Development Corporation, worked for Milliken from 1997 until 2004 and was his chief of staff in 2003 and 2004.

"Peter was always a tremendous representative of Canada and of Parliament," said Garrah. "Internationally he had an exceptional reputation."

Garrah said Milliken’s strength was in representing Canada on an international scale but didn’t forget the needs of his constituents in Kingston and the Islands.

"He never forgot about the riding and I think that’s a fading quality of Members of Parliament of today."

Garrah said when members are given larger responsibilities like cabinet posts, Speaker of the House or Parliamentary secretary, its easy to forget "things at home."

"You have to have a good sense where you come from and who put you there," he said.

"He’s joining a very distinguished group of Canadians and I think it’ll be a proud moment for him and his family and frankly it’ll be a proud moment for the people that worked for him because we played a part in his achievements."

Kingston and the Islands MPP Sophie Kiwala was Milliken’s office manager at his Kingston constituency office from 2007 until his retirement in 2011.

"I expect he’ll be humble about this occasion," said Kiwala. "He has contributed enormously to Canadian politics. In my estimation he was the perfect speaker. He was always able to consider all sides, he always in his work paid scrupulous attention to detail, it drove many of us crazy but we learned well from it.

"In our riding he was very humble, very approachable, very well-liked and he was the same in Parliament," said Kiwala. "I’m really thrilled for him, he’s a wonderful, deserving recipient."

Milliken attended many Order of Canada installations while serving as Speaker.

"I thank whoever looked after the nomination and whoever approved it, I have no idea, but I’m delighted that it went forward and got approved and I have a chance to attend one of these ceremonies as a recipient rather than as a witness."